Thill-coupling.



, Patented Oct. 2, I900. C. H. RASTEDE. THILL COUPLING.

(Application filed Jan. 25', 1900.

(No Mbdel.)

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.m 3 mwmmmm UNITED STATE PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES H. RASTEDE, OFCEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,804, dated October 2, 1900.

I Application filed January 25, 1900. Serial No. 2,771. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. RASTEDE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful -Thill Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to thill-couplings, and has for its object to provide an improved antirattling device which will hold the thill tightly to the axle-clip, so as to prevent rattling therein and at the same time permitting of a free vertical movement of the thill. It 1s also designed to provide a detachable device which may be applied to any common or ordinary thill-coupling Without altering or changing the latter and which will effectually prevent accidental displacement of the thill, while permitting of the ready removal thereof.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings,and particularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that'changes in'the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a thill-coupling equipped with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane of the thillbolt. Fig. 4 is a detail perspectiveview of the antirattling attachment.

Corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings are designated by like characters of reference.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a common or ordinary and substantially U shaped aXle-clip,having the plate 2, connecting the opposite ends of the clip, and the nuts 3 for securing the clip to an axle. Also the clip is provided with the usual forwardly-projecting bearing-ears 4, having the corresponding transversely alined perforations 5 for the reception of the thill-bolt 6. The thill-iron 7 is received between the bearing-ears 4,and the thill-bolt passes through the latter and the eye of the thill-iron, so as to pivotally or hingedly connect the thill to the axle-clip. These parts may be of any common or ordinary form and are shown to more fully illustrate the application and operation of the improved antirattling device.

In carrying out the present invention one end of the thill-bolt is provided with a laterally-enlarged head 8, having a vertically-disposed slot 9, extending entirely through said head, and piercing the slot from the outer end of the head is a set-screw 10.

The antirattling-spring comprises a vertically-disposed bowed plate 11, having an up.- wardly and outwardly inclined spring-tongue 12, which bears against the rear side of the thill-iron, so as to prevent rattling thereof, as will be understood. The upperend of the spring-plate 11 is provided with a transverse flange 13, to which is connected a substantially L-shaped stem or shank 14, the vertical member 15 of which extends downwardly through the slot 9 in the head of the thillbolt, and is held therein by means of the setscrew 10, and may be adjusted vertically, so as to accommodate the spring to the requirements of the particular thill-coupling to which the device may be applied. It will be noted that the flange 13 of the spring and the transverse portion of the stem or shank form a covering for the space between the bearingears and in rear of the thill-iron, so as to prevent the lodgment of dirt between the parts of the spring, which would render the spring useless and also interfere with the free movement of the thills.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the substantially V-shaped spring is located between the opposite bearing-ears of the axle-clip and in rear of the thill-iron. Moreover, the device is also connected to the thill-bolt, whereby the latter is held against accidental longitudinal displacement, while at the same time the stem or shank 14 may be conveniently disconnected from the bolt, so that the latter may be removed from the thill-coupling when it is desired to disconnect the thill-iron, and this operation may be had without disconnecting any other fastenlngs. I

By reference particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the vertical portion 15 of the L-shaped stem 14 is bowed inwardly, so as to form a spring, which is designed to frictionally engage the walls of the slot 9 should the set-screw 1O become displaced, and thus hold the an ti rattling device without the assistance of the set-screw.

What is claimed is In a thill-coupling, the com bination with an axle-clip having forwardly-extending ears and a thill or coupling iron arranged between the ears, of a pivot-bolt passing through the ears and the coupling or thill iron and prohorizontally and secured to the said flange, its other portion being disposed vertically and passing through the slot of the head of the bolt, and a s0t-scr =w mounted on the head of the bolt at the outer side thereof and extending to the slot and engaging the vertical portion of the L-shaped piece or shank and adjustably securing. the same to the bolt, whereby the antirattler-spring is adapted to engage the coupling or thill iron, and is capable of holding the same in place, and is also supported by the bolt, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. RASTEDE.

Witnesses:

F. MACFARLANE, H. S. PARSONS. 

